Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia

What Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia does

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) is a national not-for-profit organization established in 1986 that operates as a federation coordinating seven member organizations delivering mental health support across Australian states and territories (ACT, NT, WA, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria). MIFA serves individuals with lived experience of severe mental illness, their families and carers, and community-managed mental health organizations, with a primary focus on amplifying the voices of people affected by severe mental illness in national policy discussions.

The organization's core offerings are not a unified technology platform but a portfolio of programs and initiatives: Finding North (an online resource for people with lived experience), Finding North Network (a national online network for Lived Experience Leadership development), Out From The Mist (a photography, short movie, and music competition), and Schizophrenia Awareness Week (an annual national awareness campaign held each May). MIFA also convenes Parliamentary Friends of Mental Health events at Parliament House, runs anti-stigma media campaigns, and submits to national policy consultations including the 2026 NDIS Amendment Bill Senate Inquiry.

MIFA's revenue model is donation-driven, supplemented by corporate partnerships and member organization contributions, with no pricing on the services it provides. The organization accepts tax-deductible donations greater than $2 via PayPal and credit/debit card, including monthly recurring donations. The organization is governed by a board of directors, employs approximately 90 people, and is incorporated under Queensland law as Mental Illness Fellowship Australia Incorporated (ABN 73 204 129 543).

Name

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia

Legal name

Mental Illness Fellowship Australia Incorporated

Website

https://mifa.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) is a national not-for-profit federation founded in 1986 that coordinates seven member organizations delivering mental health support, advocacy, and anti-stigma campaigns across Australia for people with lived experience of severe mental illness.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Advocacy Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

Keywords

• Mental health advocacy
• Peer support services
• Anti-stigma campaigns
• Lived experience leadership
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandgate

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: MIFA accepts tax-deductible donations greater than $2 through PayPal and credit/debit card. Monthly recurring donations are available with annual receipts.
2. Corporate Partnerships: MIFA offers corporate partnership opportunities for organizations seeking to support mental health initiatives.
3. Member Organization Network: MIFA provides national coordination and support to affiliated member organizations across Australian states and territories.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia is a national not-for-profit federation that coordinates mental health advocacy, awareness campaigns, and lived-experience leadership programs across Australia. It connects 7 member organizations across states and territories, delivers online resources through the Finding North platform and Finding North Network, and runs annual anti-stigma campaigns such as Schizophrenia Awareness Week. MIFA also convenes Parliamentary Friends of Mental Health events and submits policy contributions to federal inquiries on behalf of people affected by severe mental illness.

Product overview

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) is a not-for-profit organization that provides national leadership in the mental health sector. Rather than offering a unified technology product platform, MIFA operates a portfolio of programs and initiatives including digital resources, online networks, awareness campaigns, advocacy services, and member network coordination. The main offerings include Finding North (information portal), Finding North Network (peer leadership platform), Out From The Mist (creative competition), and Schizophrenia Awareness Week (annual awareness campaign), all focused on amplifying lived experience voices and advocating for people affected by severe mental illness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Finding North: A national online network aimed at growing Lived Experience Leadership. It brings together current and emerging leaders to establish connections, discuss ideas, promote opportunities, and shine a light on the true power of lived experience.
• Out From The Mist
• Finding North Network
• Schizophrenia Awareness Week

Products and services

• Finding North A website designed by and for people with lived experience of mental health conditions, providing information and inspiration to help users find their next step in recovery. Audience: individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions and their support networks.
• Finding North Network A national online network for people looking to grow their Lived Experience Leadership, providing a space for peer leaders to establish connections, discuss ideas, and promote opportunities. Audience: current and emerging lived-experience leaders in the mental health sector.
• Out From The Mist A photography, short movie, and music competition focused on mental illness, capturing diverse experiences from pain and suffering, caring and empathy for loved ones, through to the elation of conquering obstacles. Audience: people with lived experience of mental illness, their families, and creative community members.
• Schizophrenia Awareness Week An annual national awareness campaign held each May (18-24th), led by MIFA since 1986, to build understanding about schizophrenia and challenge stigma, leading up to World Schizophrenia Awareness Day on 24 May. Audience: general public, policymakers, and people affected by schizophrenia.
• Parliamentary Friends of Mental Health A convening program where MIFA hosts events at Parliament House with parliamentary stakeholders to raise awareness of mental health reform issues. Audience: federal parliamentarians, policymakers, and mental health sector stakeholders.
• National Lived Experience Community Network An online, easy-to-access social platform that connects people with lived experience of mental health conditions for community connection and advocacy. Audience: people with lived experience of mental health conditions across Australia.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Out Doors Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Newest member of the MIFA Network representing Victoria. Specializes in outdoor adventures, creative activities, and nature-based mental health support, serving thousands of Victorians since 1988.
• Mental Health Foundation ACTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the MIFA Network representing the Australian Capital Territory. Located at 11/70 McLaurin Crescent, Chifley ACT 2602.
• Mental Illness Fellowship Australia (NT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the MIFA Network representing the Northern Territory. Located at 2/273 Bagot Rd, Coconut Grove NT 0810.
• MIFWAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the MIFA Network representing Western Australia. Located at Midland Professional Centre, Level 3, 9 The Avenue, Midland WA 6056.
• KarakancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the MIFA Network representing Queensland. Located at 14a/10 Old Chatswood Rd, Daisy Hill QLD 4127.
• SelectabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the MIFA Network representing North Queensland. Located at 66-68 Charles Street, Aitkenvale QLD 4814.
• Skylight Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the MIFA Network representing South Australia. Located at 5 Cooke Terrace, Wayville SA 5034.
• Finding NorthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational online platform designed by and for people with lived experience of mental health conditions. Provides information, resources, and hope.
• Finding North NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational online network for people looking to grow their Lived Experience Leadership. Connects current and emerging peer leaders.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mind Australia: National mental health nonprofit providing community-managed psychosocial support services. Comparable to MIFA's member organizations in direct service delivery and to MIFA itself in advocacy — a peer support provider with lived-experience focus overlapping MIFA's member base.
• RUOK?: Suicide prevention and mental health awareness charity built around an annual awareness day. Comparable to MIFA's Schizophrenia Awareness Week as a national, single-cause awareness campaign nonprofit with corporate partnerships, donor fundraising, and parliamentary engagement.
• Beyond Blue: Australia's largest mental health awareness and support organization, addressing anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention. Comparable as a national mental health nonprofit that combines advocacy, awareness campaigns, helpline services, and donor fundraising — but with broader population focus and substantially larger resources than MIFA.
• Mental Health Australia: The national peak body for the mental health sector in Australia, representing a coalition of organizations. Comparable to MIFA as a national advocacy and coordination body that engages with government and parliamentary processes, but operates as an umbrella peak rather than a federation of service-delivery members.
• SANE Australia: National mental health nonprofit focused on complex mental illness including schizophrenia, bipolar, and psychosis — directly overlapping MIFA's severe-mental-illness positioning. Comparable in advocacy, awareness campaigns (e.g., Schizophrenia Awareness Week history), and lived-experience engagement, making it MIFA's closest like-for-like peer.

Emerging players

• Batyr: Australian for-purpose organization focused on youth mental health through peer-led education programs. Comparable to MIFA's lived-experience leadership model (Finding North Network), but with a narrower youth-segment focus and a smaller, earlier-stage organizational footprint.

Regional players

• Grow: Australian peer-led mental health mutual support organization running community programs. Comparable to MIFA's lived-experience, peer-support ethos, but operating as a single organization rather than a national federation and at smaller scale than MIFA's network.

Broad incumbents

• Lifeline Australia: Australia's largest crisis support and suicide prevention service. Comparable as a nationally recognized mental health nonprofit with awareness campaigns, donor fundraising, and parliamentary advocacy — but with significantly larger scale, government funding, and a 24/7 service model.
• Black Dog Institute: Australian medical research institute focused on mental health translation into clinical practice, education, and digital tools. Comparable in national brand presence and mental-health-specific focus, but anchored in research and clinical translation rather than advocacy and federation-based community support.
• headspace: National Youth Mental Health Foundation funded by the Australian government, providing clinical and early-intervention services. Comparable as a high-profile national mental health brand with awareness campaigns and a donor/corporate partnership model, but with substantially larger government backing and a clinical service offering MIFA lacks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mifaoz
• Facebookfacebook.com/mifaoz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mifaoz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia